Backstage at the Mariinsky Theatre

Sarah Crompton goes behind the scenes at St Petersburg’s famous ballet
company

The Mariinsky Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world and, still, to many observers, the home of the purest classical–ballet style of all.

This summer’s breathlessly anticipated three–week Covent Garden season opens today with the Russian troupe’s Romeo and Juliet (until Thursday), and the embarrassment of riches continues with its production of Swan Lake (in rep Aug 1–14), a lovely Balanchine double bill of Apollo and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Aug 8, 9) and a succulent triple of The Firebird, Marguerite and Armand and Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH (Aug 11, 12). Ratmansky’s much–praised Cinderella (Aug 15, 16) brings the season to a glittering close.

Earlier this year, as the Mariinsky was preparing for its London run, the Telegraph was given exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the company’s base in St Petersburg, during which we filmed it in class and rehearsal and talked to many of it biggest stars as they relaxed in between. Today, see our fascinating interview with principal ballerina Viktoria Tereshkina.